Sauran

If you are traveling between Kyzylorda and Turkestan, Sauran is a must-see on your way there. An intimate ruin of a once-great Silk Road city on the Syr Darya, it’s an excellent aide for the imagination with regards to life in medieval times, and one of the most interesting archaeological sites in Kazakhstan. More impressions here.

There is no entry fee, and no security. You might find archaeologists working on the site; they will be happy to explain things to you. The road towards the ruins is new, and only the last 500m, after a railroad underpass, are bumpy. But pavement for a walking path makes it easy to get to the gates for everyone now, including elderly and disabled travelers.

To get there from Turkestan, drive northwest on the highway to Kyzylorda for 47 km. The walls of Sauran can be spotted on your left side, about 2 km from the road. Ignore the signs pointing to the village of Sauran, the site is still more than 10 km after those signs. From Kyzylorda, it’s a 245 km ride. The highway is in excellent condition. GPS coordinates are 43.516134, 67.770891.

Without your own transport, you can get a taxi driver (ask for Krepost Sauran) for 3000 tenge to go there and back from Turkestan. It is cheaper to get a bus to or from Kyzylorda, and ask to be dropped off at the site. Hitching a ride back to Turkestan should not see you more than 20 minutes by the side of the road. Expect to pay 500 tenge for the ride back.